【Dear Utol (2025): Itch Follows Episode 23】

It's almost summer,Dear Utol (2025): Itch Follows Episode 23 which means it's almost time for big comic book events.

Crossover events – especially ones that start in the summer – have always been huge. Past events like Marvel's Civil Warand DC's Rebirthshook up their respective universes. And this year, Marvel's Secret Empireevent will tie up some very divisive loose ends for Captain America. But we need something new, fresh, and fun to get us through this summer.

And that's where writer Jody Houser and team come in, with Faith and the Future Force, an spin-off mini series event that was announced today at the Valiant Summit.

SEE ALSO: 'Arrival' screenwriter's next act after Oscar nomination? A comic book

This four-issue arc will follow Faith, an inherently bubbly pop-culture superfan who grew up wanting to have powers just like her favorite heroes. (So basically, she's me.) Then she found out that she has the ability to fly, as well as move people and objects within her "companion field." (Unlike me.) She joined a superhero team in the Harbingercomic series.

Currently, she's leading her own solo book, trying to live her best life and be LA's very own superhero at the same time. This summer's mini series event, however, will put her at the center of a large scale crises that will involve basically everyone in the Valiant universe.

Houser explains the appeal of Faithperfectly.

This hero always tries to pull the good out of the pop-culture stories that we've all come to love, and she lives out those fantasies "with such hope and such positivity." Houser says that Faith's goal is very simple: "I can help people, so I'm going to help people."

Seems like an obvious thing for a hero to operate, but in this tumultuous day and age, it's extremely important. As Houser says, "I'm glad that we have a character like her in superhero comics right now."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Faith is endlessly relatable, constantly making references to Star Trekand similar cultural staples. Some of these references are more obvious than others, though, so they're fun to spot. Houser reveals that she once put some off-brand Funko Pop!figures of the Hamiltoncast in an early issue. The brand of these convention exclusives was "Raddo," named after a character in a Star WarsRPG.

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And like so many fellow geeks, Faith is a big fan of Doctor Whoand has always wanted to meet a time traveller. Lucky for her, one exists in her shared comic universe – Neela Sethi from Ivar, Timewalker.

In Faith and the Future Force, "Time is slowly being dismantled by an evil force," explains Houser, "and for whatever reason, Neela is convinced that Faith is the only one who can fix it."

Houser says that main threat of the event is someone figuring out how to violate the laws of time travel that have already been established in this universe. "When you have the nice, steady rules of time travel and then someone knows how to break them, well … that's why you need all the superheroes ever."

And Faith and the Future Forcewill have just that — all the superheroes from the Valiant universe ever.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Faith and Neela will be summoning the help of a multitude of heroes from their universe.

When asked which ones we can expect to see, Houser says that "most everyone [will be] showing up at some point."

This will be a great introduction for those fans who want to dip their feet in the Valiant comic universe, as well as a fun time for existing fans.

Another interesting part of this arc will be the relationship between Neela and Faith.

Unlike Faith, Neela has a bit of disdain for Doctor Who. Since the widely beloved show serves as Faith's point of reference for time travel, there are sure to be some hilarious exchanges between these two characters.

The event will feature various artists, starting out with Stephen Segovia and Barry Kitson. The art will change depending on the characters' point in time, so hopefully there will be opportunities to see some amazing guest creators.

It seems like the superhero world has been inundated with time travel stories over the years, so hopefully this will not be more of the same. That being said, the voice and tone of the Faithbooks — and of the titular character herself — is enough to make any story a delight to read.

As Houser puts it, "Even when the entire universe is at stake, you have to be able to have fun with it."

Valiant Entertainment's Faith and the Futureforce will begin in July 2017.

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